Understanding the Financial Aid Process
The financial aid process can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. There are many things you'll need to understand, and we're here to help.
Determining whether you need help in financing your University of Southern Maine (USM) education is the easiest part. Next is the hardest part - figuring out how to make it all possible.
Applying for Financial Aid
You'll start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA, which collects information used in determining your eligibility for some need-based institutional funding, such as grants, loans, and work-study. Please note that most academic or talent-based scholarships require other applications.
Eligibility for financial aid is based on several factors including family income and assets, size of household, number of students in college, satisfactory academic progress, etc. Click here to learn more and begin the financial aid process.
Understanding your award and next steps
You'll likely have a number of questions about your application and next steps after you've completed your FAFSA. We can help answer them.
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